A FLEDGLING MORAY support group are hoping that the participatory funding round organised by tsiMoray this week will provide them with a much needed boost in delivering support for those affected by mental health issues.
Based in Lossiemouth, Mind Your Head Moray is a peer support group established last year and holding fortnightly meetings that have proven highly successful.
They are one of several local groups who will be considered at ‘The Big Vote’, an Our Communities participatory funding round hosted by tsiMoray’s Communities, Drugs and Alcohol Initiative.
Mind Your Head Moray will make their pitch at the Inkwell in Elgin from 2pm to 4pm tomorrow (Wednesday), where members of the public are invited to attend and lend their votes to the groups they believe are most deserving of grants up to £1500.
Mind Your Head Moray’s Vivien Hendry said: “We have applied for Our Communities funding under the drugs and alcohol prevention – stressing the prevention, as there are many people struggling with their mental health who will sometimes self-medicate with drugs or alcohol if they are not receiving adequate support and/or medication.
“Mind Your Head Moray has gone from strength to strength since being established a year ago, holding our meetings on alternate Thursday’s at the Lossiemouth Youth Café.
“Our funding bid is a very important step for us, success will allow us to provide an opportunity for members of the group to sample treatments and techniques in dealing with stress, anxiety or depression through mediation, reflexology and mindfulness.
“It will also help by partially funding group outings on health-promoting activities, and pay for new leaflets allowing us to reach out to more people in Moray who are dealing with mental health issues.”
However, Vivien has stressed that for their funding bid to be a success – and that of other groups attending in Elgin on Wednesday – will require the public to turn out and vote.
She said: “Even if people are not directly affected by these issues, I’m sure that they will know someone who is, so I would urge them to come along to the Inkwell and lend their support.”
Find out more about Mind Your Head Moray on their Facebook page.